Packianathan Dawasi

P.D. Packianathan was the second son of P.D. Paramanandam and Arulai. His family lived in the tin-roofed house at While House street and at the back of which was located the 'Nalumuku kinaru' meaning four-cornered well. He was mostly engaged in agriculture and social activities. He inherited extensive land on the western part of the Nagercoil Christion quarters and also paddy fields in the Perumal Kulapathu. The local people called him 'Athikan' meaning Headman. He married Gnanappoo, daughter of Devasahayam Annaviar (meaning Teacher) from Tamaraikulam. He served as deacon of Nagercoil Home Church. They had two sons and one daughter. The descendants who formed the fourth generation of this clan are:

P. Devasahayam

P. Arumainayagam

Arulai.

Curtsy "Dynasty" by Maxwell T. Johnson

Dewasagaim was the eldest son of Paramanandam and Arulai. He had his early education in the Nagercoil Seminary and he served the same seminary as teacher for a short period. Later encouraged by his friend Motchakan of James Town, he crossed the sea and went to Ceylon and worked as conductor in the coffee plantations for fifteen years. He returned to Nagercoil ahter amassing considerable wealth. He constructed a two storied tin - roofed house opposite to the present Women's Christian College. This house was then known as the 'Mavadi Veedu' as it stood close to a very large mango tree. He organised the Coffee Gardens in the Asambu Hills. He established Victoria Press. He lived in great pomp and style, and he was much admired by his friends and relatives. He married Elizabeth Gnanai. He served as deacon of the Nagercoil Home Church. He owned large areas of land around his house and on the western parts of Nagercoil. As he was childless, his properties were distributed to the children of Yovan who was the brother of his wife Elizabeth Gnanai. -- Curtsy :"Dynasty"

Mr.Dewasagaim the first to enter upon the professional culture of coffee in the Travancore Hills. In 1859, he applied to and obtained from, the Government of Travancore, after meeting the security to pay the taxes, a grant of 60 acres of forest land in the Ashamboo Hills about 12 miles north of Nagercoil. Erecting a shed in 1861, on a broad platform of rock, he had the jungle cleared and the wild beasts driven off, and on the virgin and fertile soil of Ashamboo, planted the coffee seeds he brought fron Ceylon. A bold venture was very successfull and brought his much more wealth. He called his property the "Victoria Estae" ahter the name of Queen Victoria the Empress of India. The sucess of this enterprse was noised abroad and other attempts of European planters from Ceylon and elsewhere followed in its wake. These planters cultivated coffee first and later on tea and rubber in the Ashamboo and other Hills, so that to day, we have in Travancore, hundreds of coffee, tea and rubber Estates owned by companies and individuals. In appreciation of this talented planter then the Maharaja of Travencore His Highess Thirunal Sri Rama Varma II gifted a gold ring, gold watch, a costly shawl, a good bay-horse, a comfortable palanquin and a double-hourse chariot as rewards for his faithful sevices along with a letter.

To,

P. D. Devasahayam Esq. 17th March 1878.

My dear Sir,

In appreciation of the assiduous and judicious manner in which you have rendered to us your services as our Agent in these estates and of the success in which they have resulted, I have the peasure to request you, on behalf of Sir T.Madhava Rao and on my own, to accept this little signet ring, with your initials engraved on it.

Its intrinsic value is trilling, but Itrust you will take it rather as an intex of our regard to you.

I am following this note to see the north Ashamboo plantations

I am,

Yours very faithfully,

(Sd). Rama Varma.

-Curtsy :Dewsagaim of Nagercoil. A Brief Memoir. By Mr. P. Devasahayam BA., L.T.